Best MMA Training Bags 2020 Guide And Reviews

There’s one aspect of training striking that can hardly be replicated in grappling. that is the ability to work on attaining perfect technique by yourself. In that sense, there’s more than one way to ensure your striking is as crisp as they come. You could go all out shadowboxing, for example. Or, even better, you could put on a pair of gloves and go over to the bag. Whether it is a heavy bag, a teardrop, a speed bag or any other punching bag you’ll be able to get a workout and work on your technique at the same time. For that purpose, we bring you the best MMA training bags of 2020, in all shapes and sizes.

Training MMA requires you to put in a lot of work in a lot of different areas. Most of them require either a specialized facility, qualified trainers/instructors, or both. In the case of striking though, as long as you have some experience, and particularly if it is your strong suit, you can get really far by yourself, technically speaking. Shadowboxing, with or without a mirror is always a good idea. However, if you really want the most bang for your buck, you have to actually have an impact when you train. In that sense, there’s hardly a better training tool than a training bag. The best MMA bags, regardless of category, share some core properties that you one to be aware of, so that your bag can serve you your entire career. And we have all of them organized and outlined for you below.

Types Of MMA Training Bags

The concept of a bag is probably as old as striking martial arts themselves. While having someone hold pads or focus mitts for you is great, sometimes it’s just hard to find a partner. So, having a bag nearby can really help you reach the next level in your training. Yes, if it is a medium-sized bag, having someone hold it might allow you to train a bit easier. However, as you’ll see later, the bag’s movement is actually another training tool, one that’ll help you develop different aspects of your game than just punching and kicking.

Seeing how striking for MMA is a really complex combination of the best principles and techniques of many arts, there are different MMA training bags. While some of the very best MMA training bags to cover all the basics, others are highly specific for a certain task. In our quest for the best MMA training bags in all departments, we did our best to include all kinds of options in our guide.

Covering every aspect of how a punching bag can help your striking is a subject for an entire article of its own. For now, we’ll just stick to the very basics. And you can’t go more basic than a 70 lbs heavy bag for MMA training. A bag that doesn’t go from the floor to co ceiling, as the heaviest ones do, is perfect for training the multiple aspects of MMA. Apart from uppercuts, you can work on virtually everything, along with lots of movement. The large 100 lbs and over bags do offer less mobility but allow for training more power. Teardrop bags help with uppercuts but do lack an option for training low kicks, for example, This is a specialized type of bag, just like the speed bag is.

The Best MMA Training Bags in 2020

Our best MMA training bags 2020 guide has options for everyone looking. In it, you’ll find heavy bags, speed bags, teardrop bags, hybrid bags, and more. However, we did not only focus on variety as our defining criteria for choosing the best MMA training bags. We also made sure that every entry is of the highest possible quality, while not burning a hole in your wallet. To that extent, we took three main characteristics as our most important ones: filling, bag material, and weight.

Heavy bag fillings are the most important aspect of a heavy bag. Most bags come filled, but you can also opt for an unfilled one too. The type of filling material defines how the bag reacts to strikes. Filler materials include water, sand, foam, and/or gel. The filler material is also a big determinant of the bag’s weight. The heavier you go, the more stability you gain. The basic rule is that you shouldn’t go lower than half your bodyweight. Finally, when it comes to bag materials, always go for the durable and sturdy. Leather, vinyl, or canvas are the most common, and best materials used in bags. Of course, leather is the preferred choice.

COMBAT SPORTS 100-POUND HEAVY BAG

We are going to start our best MMA training bags guide with a Muay Thai style heavy bag. This is one of those bags that go from ceiling to floor and provide a great striking surface for training virtually everything. Uppercut training might be the only aspect that suffers slightly, but you can adjust and adapt. This full-length bag is one of the most highly rated among all kinds of professionals.
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This bag is made of solid, extra sturdy synthetic leather that guarantees durability. The weight of this bag is 100 lbs, making it one of the heaviest in our guide. The construction makes it extremely easy to clean and maintain. The measurements are 13″ x 72″. The bag comes with a heavy-duty chain to hang it from. The color is black, with the logo and writing in white. The fact that this is a full-length bag means you can train everything from leg kicks to elbows. Moreover, this bag provides plenty of resistance and remains static throughout so you won’t need a partner to stabilize it.

EVERLAST OMNI STRIKE HEAVY 80-POUND BAG

Everlast gear is a classic brand for boxing equipment and is not far behind when it comes to MMA gear too. The Omni Strike Bag is arguably the best MMA training bag you can own. I have one of these at home and it provides one of the best workouts ever, whether technically, conditioning-wise, or both! This one is a hybrid, weighing at 80 lbs and providing options for training literally every aspect of striking.
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The material this bag is made of is once again synthetic leather. This translates to maximal durability and longevity. The filling is with cutting edge C3 foam that provides the perfect balance between sturdiness and flexibility. The design is somewhat unusual since there’s additional foam wrapped around the bottom of the bag. this provides you with a striking surface great for working on kicks. At the same time, there are handles on both sides of the bag, allowing you to practice clinch striking and dirty boxing as well. It also makes it perfect for ground and pound drills.

This bag is not a full length one, meaning you’ll also need to employ footwork when training. The weight is also lower, with this bag coming in at 80 lbs. Comes in a red and black combination and is my personal favorite out of all the best MMA training bags we have here today.

CENTURY HYDROCORE HEAVY BAG

With the Century Hydrocore bag, we once again have a full-length heavy bag, Muay Thai Style. This is a unique bag not often see in modern MMA, due to the filling. Instead of the usual foam or soft material, this bag features water as the main filling. Coupled with its sturdy exterior this bag really provides a different striking training experience.
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The Century Hydrocore MMA Bag has a special vinyl-polyester exterior to guarantee toughness. The core, however, as the name suggests, is a liquid one made out of – water. However, you don’t just get a bag filled with water, as there’s also a layer of foam beneath the vinyl cover and around the water core. The bag comes in black color, with nothing but the Century logo on it. It comes with a variable weight system, heavy-duty hanging chain, ceiling ring, and extra-durable hanging straps. The water core provides you with a sensation like striking a human body, which really changes striking training. Plus you can add or remove water, thus changing the weight of the bag. The most innovative and high-tech one in our best MMA training bags 2020 guide.

FAIRTEX TEARDROP LEATHER MMA BAG

Taking a little breather from heavy bags, we have a different MMA training bag variation here. The Fairtex Teardrop MMA bag is a specialized bag as a result of its specific structure and form. This is another Muay Thai style bag, offering a different feel when it comes to close quarters striking, like elbows and knees. Works perfectly for all punches too, but is not the best for training leg kicks.
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In all honesty, this bag is designed specifically for Muay Thai. However, it more than fits the bill for MMA, given how key a component Muay Thai is. The bag is made out of genuine leather, constructed in a way that ensures it’ll outlast most other bags. The premium leather means it is completely waterproof and special Nylon ensures there are no possibilities of tears appearing anywhere. Moreover, it comes with Nylon web straps that help secure it easily This bag is lighter than previous ones, given its main role. It also comes completely filled with foam filling. Available in a Red, black, and white combination. Perfect for people looking to crisp up clinch work and Muay Thai specific techniques.

RDX PUNCHING BAG

RDX is a brand that’s hard to avoid nowadays. Whether you train boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, wrestling, or MMA, you’ll most likely at least consider buying an RDX product. In most cases, you won’t go wrong. When it comes to punching bags, you definitely need to consider RDX among the best MMA training bags of 2020. Particularly this RDX bag.
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One major thing to know about this bag is that it has the best price in our guide. One main reason for this is that this bag comes unfilled. This solves most shipping and transportation issues, plus allows you to choose your filling material. In terms of variety, you also get more than with any other entry in our guide. The RDX MMA bag comes in five different color combinations, including orange, black-red, and green. There are also two size options, one at 4 ft high, and the second at 5 ft. The bag has a Zero Impact G-Core Maya Hide Leather cover, heavy-duty top closure systems. There’s also a tether loop at the bottom, to allow you bottom fixation when/if required. Comes with a pair of training gloves specialized for bag work. Completely waterproof.

TITLE BOXING SUPER SPEED BAG

This bag is a boxing classic for more than one reason. First up, it is a Title Boxing bag, which pretty much tells the whole story, when it comes to quality striking gear. It is also a speed bag, which provides you with a very unique and specialized aspect of striking training. You need to have a bit of experience with speedbag work, though, before you can really get a workout with this one.
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Given the fact that this is the smallest bag in our best MMA training bags guide, it is also one of the best-priced ones. It is also a highly specialized advanced striking training tool. The outside of the bag is all 100 % genuine premium leather. Speed bags are very tight and inflated as opposed to any other training bag. In order to stay that way, this bag has an inner bladder that’s guaranteed to outlast all of its rivals. Moreover, the bag has welded seams, triple reinforced stitching, and a reinforced loop. It comes ready to go and is available in 6 different color combinations, wither plain colored or in a combination.

EVERLAST TRADITIONAL HEAVY BAG (KIT)

Keeping with boxing classic brands, we keep going with Everlast, a brand just as, if not more famous than Title Boxing. Everlast pulls all stops with this one, though, making it the perfect bag for versatile MMA training. It is a medium-heavy bag, meaning you get the best of both worlds, in terms of footwork and power training.
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There are actually two different weight options you can get. One of them is a 70 lbs bag, while the other is a 100 lbs full-length heavy bag. The filling material is a custom one, made up of natural and synthetic fibers blended with sifted sand. This gives the Everlast Traditional Bag a very particular feel during striking training. Moreover, it comes with an adjustable weight customization chain. It also features a tether loop at the bottom and comes with a special bungee cord to help you attach it to the floor. While on the subject of providing essential equipment, Everlast also provides you with specialized bag gloves and hand wraps when you purchase this bag. The best deal in our best MMA training bags 2020 guide without a doubt!

FDW HEAVY DUTY PUNCHING BAG (STAND)

Wrapping things up, something different. While most bags do not require a lot of space to hang, sometimes hanging a bag from the ceiling is just not an option. In those cases, a bag like the FDW Heavy Duty one comes in real handy. The main reason? It comes complete with a stand to hang it from.
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What you get with this one is either a white or black medium-sized bag, complete with a stand. It is specially designed to catch as little space as possible. Nonetheless, the bag is still heavy enough to provide you with great training. The frame for the stand is ultra high-quality steel, ensuring a lifetime of use. It is easy to assemble and take apart and can support up to 330 lbs. The bag itself is made out of extra strong materials and has a multi-layered foam filling. it comes in dimensions 12″L x 12″ D x 50″H and comes with heavy-duty chains and all the necessary attachments.

MMA Bag Training

Training on a heavy bag for MMA is a very versatile tool. Once again, having someone hold a bag for you can be both beneficial and not, dep[ending on your goals. In that sense, setting up a training bag at home is a real breeze. All you need is enough space to move around. Most bags come with all the required tools to hang them up. Some, like the FDW Heavy Duty Punching Bag, actually comes with a stand that completely removes this issue. That said, once you have it, if it is one of the best MMA training bags from our guide, it’ll last you a lifetime.

Training on a heavy bag can be as versatile as you are creative. Different training modalities depend first and foremost on the type of bag and your specific goals. that said, you have options of working on punching or kicking specifically. You might also focus on movement, and footwork, or work on striking/takedown transitions. You might also choose to train different aspects of striking, like power or speed. Of course, you can also put everything together, and even throw in some defensive movements (checking leg kicks for example) or evasive movement (rolling and weaving). Last but not least, mixing in striking with some bodyweight, kettlebell or other types of strength and conditioning is a great way to get in exquisite shape for MMA.

Another aspect to consider when training on an MMA training bag is equipment. First of all, you get acquainted with your gear, whether it is sparring or fight gloves and hand wraps. If you insist on using shin pads, you can also wear those when hitting the bag. Wearing a mouthpiece during striking also helps you work on your breathing and rhythm.

Final Words

ALL in all the heavy bag is an irreplaceable piece of equipment for striking training. it allows you to train on your own, but still, have all the benefits of training with a partner. While even the very best MMA training bags don’t hit back, they all do serve multiple specific purposes. Whether you’re working your clinch on a teardrop bag, hand-eye coordination on a speed bag, or going all out on a full-length heavy bag, you’re putting in important work that’ll get you more than ready for the cage.

Best MMA Thai Pads 2020 Guide With Detailed Reveiws

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Training MMA striking requires a god awful amount of equipment. You need the space to train, you need timers, hand wraps, gloves, heavy bags… however, what you need more than anything if you’re to get better at striking is a training partner…and a couple of Thai pads. there’s hardly a better way for you to learn striking than by hitting pads on a regular basis. Live sparring is great, but how often can you do it? heavy bag work is also important but lacks a defensive aspect. Training with Thai Padis is a way of training that covers every important aspect of MAM striking. And, apart from a knowledgeable partner, it requires some of the Best MMA Thai Pads 2020 has to offer.

For many people, striking is an aspect of MMA they really enjoy training. Unlike grappling, with striking you have many training modalities available. With BJJ and wrestling, you can either drill or go with a partner. However, when it comes to Muay Thai and kickboxing, you can go at it alone. Moreover, you can go for bag work or simply shadowbox without any equipment required. Or you could grab a partner and go live or drill. There’s also one unique training aspect that actually includes all of the above – hitting pads. A pair of great Thai pads can really take your striking abilities to the next level. To that extent, grabbing a pair of the best MMA Thai Pads mean you won’t ever have to go shopping again. Check them out!

Best MMA Thai Pads in 2020

One of the main roles of MMA Thai pads has a lot to do with the person holding them. You won’t find many training partners if their arms are shattered after every time the train with you. The best MMA Thai pads we have in our 2020 guide all have certain qualities in common. One of those key qualities is the ability to help with impact absorption with maximal efficiency. On top of that, we made sure all our suggestions are easy to get a hold of and stable while you’re holding them.

For those on the other side of the pads, we also made sure of certain key elements. One such thing is the material. As you’re about to see, all the pads in our best MMA Thai pads 2020 guide are premium material, leather, or synthetic. They’ll all last you a lifetime (or two) without showing signs of deterioration. Moreover, we included several different sizes, shapes, and overall options. We held off on focus mitts simply because they deserve a complete article of their own. Plus, Thai mads offer you the option of training every aspect of MMA striking from punches and kicks to elbows and knees without having to change equipment.

EVERLAST PRIME MMA THAI PAD

No messing around here, as we start with one of the best brands for martial arts equipment. Everlast is a guarantee of quality on its own but often comes with a hefty price tag too. Luckily, we know which of their products fulfill the highest standards of quality while coming at an incredibly low price. One such product is the Prime MMA Thai Pad, a real leader among the best MMA Thai pads of 2020.
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This pad comes in a black, white, and grey combination, with some really cool bright green stitching along the edges. The material is premium synthetic leather that guarantees durability and sturdiness. Furthermore, it is a special blend that allows for a very soft feel during training. This pad also boasts an authentic Thai-style design, complete with extra dense premium foam padding. The padding ensures maximal safety for the person holding, and maximal comfort for the person striking. The inside has Isoplate forearm padding that stabilizes the pad and provides extended support. The closure is via a hook and loop system with associated riveted handles that come reinforced. This pad is the ultimate product of the latest technologies. Available in one universal size.

CONTENDER FIGHT SPORTS MMA THAI PADS

Coming in second in our best MMA Thai pads 2020 guide is a pair of pads that come to us courtesy of Contender Fight Sports. These are the perfect Thai pads for anyone, but will particularly benefit beginners. They’re easy to use, utlraf=comfortable, and come downright cheap for the quality they offer.
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The first important thing to note here is that with these pads you get a complete set. They come in a pair, meaning you can get all you need in one click. In terms of material, they’re made of a special type of Vinyl. The way they’re constructed ensures they’re easy to hand,e easy to clean, and can take all your toughest strikes without budging. The inside has not one but two hook and loop straps to secure the pads. An additional riveted handle ensures complete control for the person holding the pads. The Contender Fight Sports MMA Thai pads are regarded very highly and are a top choice for many professional fighters.

RDX MMA STRIKE SHIELD

These are the most advanced pair of pads in today’s guide. They feature a very original design that makes them incredibly comfortable to work with for both parties. That said, they also have a really acceptable price, given the use of the latest technologies. Plus, they’re an RDX product that is synonymous with long-lasting MMA gear.
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First of all, these MMA Thai pads come in a pair. The shape of the pads is unlike any on the list. Namely, they have an oval shape and feature a natural arm position curve. The outside is all genuine leather, making them incredibly durable. It comes in dimensions 33cm x 20cm x 10cm. The filling is also uniques, with three layers of gel integrated foam which is extra thick. Each layer features a different type of foam, with EVA foam as the base, and Calibrated Impact Diffusion Foam on top. The Calibrated Impact Diffusion Foam is split into two parts by an Infused shock dispersion sheet. The pads come in a black, white, and red color combination. they’re extremely lightweight, featuring two velcro straps and a riveted handle. These MMA Thai pads are our preferred choice.

SANABUL BATTLE FORGED THAI PADS

Sanabul is a brand that has a vast array of MMA, and martial arts in general, gear. Their take on MMA Thai pads comes in the form of The Battle Forged Thai pads, the best-priced pair in the best MMA Thai Pads 2020 guide. They come in a few different colors and have plenty of eye-catching properties.
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These Thai pads sure offer variety. they’re available in three main colors, black, white, and brown. Given that the material is leather, all of the designs look amazing. Moreover, this is the lightest pair of Thai pads in our guide. Each pad weighs approximately 1.5 pounds which is unusually light for Thai pads. this is mainly down to the San-Air Ultra-light foam which makes these pads revolutionary. It is able to withstand and absorb crazy amounts of force while being extremely light. Plus it makes the pads comfortable to hit and wear. There’s also a secure Velcro system, complete with two hook and loop closures and a handle. They come in a pair and offer a 5″ x 7.5″ striking area.

FAIRTEX MMA THAI CURVED KICK PADS

Fairtex has a pair of Thai pads that made our best MMA Thai pads 2020 guide because of multiple reasons. First up, they’re a bit longer than usual ones, allowing for a much more varied presentation of targets. Next, they’re of great quality and a great price that goes along it. Plus, they look great, with a bullseye painted in the middle.
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Once again this is a pair of lightweight Thai pads perfect for MMA training. There’s an ergonomic curve design that allows for a tighter fit, which makes these pads particularly useful for leg kicks. The forearm straps are reinforced, and the handle is the perfect thickness to ensure a comfortable and tight grip. The pads come in a pair and are 15″ long. They’re available in one design only, black and white with red seams. The Fairtex logo is on top of the striking area with a white bullseye in the middle of it. The material is ultra-durable leather, and the filling is with Fairtex copyright ultralight foam.

COMBAT SPORTS LEATHER MMA THAI PADS

Combat sports as a brand might not be your first choice for MMA gear. In terms of Thai pads, particularly their leather one,s this would be a mistake. While these pads are simple in design, they’re extremely durable and are available at a more than reasonable price. Actually, the price of these is outright cheap! Furthermore, they can freely challenge Sanabul’s pads for the title of the lightest weight pads in our guide.
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On the subject of lightweight, the foam in these Thai pads is of a special type, able to withstand massive impact while retaining its thickness for years! In terms of design, they’re pretty basic, which was obviously the goal. Two hook and loop Velcro closures and a riveted handle at the back. A plain one-color design with blue striking and holding areas and a black edge. The material is genuine leather that’s able to withstand everything you throw at it in terms of strikes. These are pads with functionality and durability as their primary goals and they do a great job of achieving them. Dimensions are 16″ height x 8″ width x 4″ thickness. They come in a pair and are not curved, allowing you to train front kicks and side kicks at full power.

Training With Thai Pads

Let’s talk about training with MMA Thai pads. If you’ve never done it, you either need to pick up your training or find a new gym. Working with Thai pads is an integral part of any striking martial art. For MMA, it is mandatory. there’s hardly a better way to develop overall great striking without the damage lives sparring brings. For those of you thinking a heavy bag is enough I’ll use an old boxing quote: “Bags don’t hit back!” While pads don’t either, the training partner wearing them does. This means with pads, you get the best of both worlds, without any of the risks of live sparring. And you need the absolute best MMA Thai pads if you’re to ever fight at the highest levels of MMA.

When you’re training MMA striking with Thai pads, a partner that knows what they’re doing is paramount. Thai pads on their own are useless. A knowledgeable training partner is essential in leading you to train correctly. When a person holds pads for you, if you are a beginner, they’ll shout combinations out. At the same time, they position themselves in a way that opens up properly set targets for you. More experienced and advanced fighters only need the targets and react to what they’re seeing.

Training with Thai pads helps you work on many striking aspects. First, you develop hand-eye coordination and improve reaction time. Next, you work plenty of different punching and kicking combinations. There’s also the defensive part of the training, as your partner will swing the pads making you bob and weave, or even check kicks. Last but not least, you have to focus a lot on footwork in every possible direction, simulating movement in a fight.

Thai Pads For MMA – FAQs

Before we end, let’s talk about a few important points when it comes to choosing the best MMA Thai pads for training. If you have no previous experience in acquiring Thai Pads, below we have answers to some of the most common questions.

Size. Something most people get confused about is the size of the training pads. As you saw earlier, there are different sized pads out there. What you essentially have to have is a pair of pads that can help you train both kicking and punching. That means leaving Thai shields aside, as well as boxing style focus mitts. Go for a pair of Thai pads that’ll let you train all, the likes of those above.

Curve. Whether you choose curved or straight Thai pads is mostly down to your preference, and that of your training partner. Curves have a lot to do with impact absorption and the delivery of strikes. Ergonomically optimized designs like the RDX pads above are a great blend of both, and should your first choice.

Quality. This one is pretty easy. You want pads that won’t give way. however, that doesn’t just include the striking surface but also the handles and straps. leather is always a great choice, as are combinations of Velcro and handles.

Impact Absorption. This is huge for the person holding the pads. If there’s one quality you need to really pay attention to, it is the comfort of the person wearing the pads. This is will allow you to train better, and also extend the life of the pads. The filling is also very important.

Summary

MMA Thai pads are not just an integral part of MMA training, but they are also a lot of fun to train with. Hitting pads is versatile, easy to adjust to your level of experience, and always yield results. If you want fast progress in the overall MMA striking technique, choosing a pair of the best MMA Thai pads from our 2020 guide is a great way to ensure progress. Now, grab a pair of pads and off to the gym!

Best MMA Jump Rope 2020 Guide And Reviews

BJJ World

Best MMA Jump Rope 2019 Guide With Detailed reviews

Training for an MMA fight is as hard as anything you’ll do in a lifetime. Probably harder. Training requires you to be skilled in plenty of martial arts in order to have a hope of cutting it in the cage. But that is not the full extent of it. No amount of technical knowledge is going to make a difference if you can’t push the pace on your opponent. A good gas tank requires even more training and a specialized one at that. While there are different energy systems to develop specific, overall conditioning for MMA is not hard. You need to run. Or, you need to find a way to get in shape by finding a sufficient substitute for it. This is where jump ropes come in, or more specifically, our Best MMA Jump Rope 2020 guide.

I’ve been involved with martial arts since the age of 6. As far as I can remember, I’ve always hated running, especially the slow, long-distance kind. Currently, I’m mostly involved with the grappling competition, but the resentment for running is still there. Luckily I found a way around it. A jump rope is a perfect tool to get the same benefits of running, but without having to actually run. For me, the weather plays a huge role, as does access to a track. I suspect this is the same for many people, so my solution is simple – get a jump rope. But not just any jump rope. If you truly want to develop a Nick Diaz-like gas tank, you’ll need to invest in one or more of the best MMA jump rope options we have for you in our 2020 guide.

Who Doesn’t Hate Roadwork?

If you talk to 10 people that train MMA or combat sports, I’d wager some craft Ale that 9 would smirk when you mention roadwork. There’s always the odd one that likes to run marathons in addition to fighting, but in general, fighters get bored with it pretty quickly. it is incredibly monotonous to hit the road and do a run long enough to actually have aerobic benefits for MMA. Moreover, you’ll also need to cover other energy systems, i.e. throw in additional sprints, plyos, and similar drills.

Roadwork requires a lot of planning to be able to do it on a regular basis. Unless you’re blessed with perfect weather and a running track next to your home, you’ll run into a logistical difficulty or two. Even if you have one of these two major factors in your favor, you still only have a 50% return. Imagine running on a cold winter day with snow pouring down. Or, perhaps even worse, running on asphalt or pavement. The amount of pounding your knees and ankles get will carry over to a short and injury-ridden MMA career.

All of the above, plus extra benefits are available by purchasing just one simple piece of equipment – a jump rope. A jump rope eliminates all the issues running brings, and offers much more in return. And, before you say it, yes it also beats running on treadmills. Why? Well, you can get a rope, turn Netflix on and do aerobic conditioning in the comfort of your living room. Even more vigorous conditioning methods are available, albeit without Netflix. That said, let’s look at what’s the best MMA jump rope for 2020 and where you can get one for yourself.

Best MMA Jump Rope in 2020

Before you go on getting just about any jumping rope, take a moment to go through our best MMA jump rope 2020 guide. Not every rope is a jump rope. At least not if you want to get results with it. There are certain conditions a rope needs to fulfill in order to actually be of use to an MMA fighter.

First up, a jump rope must be able o offer everything a fighter needs performance-wise. That means you need a rope for Long Steady Duration (LSD) cardio, as well as for sprinting, double unders, and speed skipping. This means you need a rope constructed in a way that allows training all these different modalities. Moreover, it means that the rope is durable and tough, and won’t give way after just a few sessions. Then, there’s also the weight of the rope. Generally, there’s no need for weighted ropes that really hurt when you misstep and are not easy to carry around. Instead, you can always go for speed skipping or even use ankle weights to get what you want. With a jump rope, mobility is key, and we certainly had it in our sights when putting this guide together.

A huge aspect that a jump rope provides is coordination. Hand-eye coordination is essential for fighters, which is exactly why boxers have been using jump ropes for so long. In terms of MMA, using a light, high performing, and durable rope can completely change the way you do conditioning. And we have nothing but the very best MMA jump rope options for you right here!

FITNESS MASTER JUMP ROPE

The fitness master jump rope is one made for pro athletes. If you really like to get in top condition for anything, especially MMA, this is the rope to go for. the Fitness Master rope is a speed jumping rope, optimized for a maximal number of rotations per second, given that you can perform them. Plus, it comes with a complete kit!
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The Fitness Master jump rope is an all-black, ultra-thin rope with an adjustable length. If you’re the only one using it you can adjust it accordingly and trim off the excess, making it perfect once and for all. This rope is made for speed, allowing for 7-8 rotations per second. it is ultra-light and easily portable. The rope comes with a carry case, a spare screws set and instructions on how to adjust the length and use the rope in general. The grips feature handles specifically for speed jumping, including plyo exercises like double unders. There’s a 90-degree smooth turning system for unimpeded rotations. The cord itself is steel, covered in durable, long-wear plastic. Comes at an incredible price and with a lifetime warranty!

KING ATHLETIC JUMP ROPE BUNDLE

King Athletics feature in our best MMA jump rope 2020 guide with an amazing entry! They offer one of the highest-grade jump ropes and include a complete training manual with it! But that’s not all. This rope is not just one of the best in the world, but the deal we have on offer is also the best out of all the others we share with you today! Don’t miss out on this one!
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The Kings Athletics Jump Rope bundle starts with a jump rope, of course. The rope is completely adjustable, and, like all the others in our guide, designed for speed jumping. It is also very easily adjustable to just about every height out there. Namely, the standard length of this rope is 9’4″, which is more than enough for most. The grips contain molded foam and feature integrated super ball-bearings. This guarantees a smooth and even rotation throughout. The rope itself is heavy-duty, meaning it can withstand repetitive daily use and never show signs of decay. The best part about this deal is that you get 2 free Ebooks and a video guide along with the rope. On top of it all, shipping is free if you’re in the USA. And as if all of that wasn’t enough, there’s a 100% money-back guarantee too!

DYNAPRO ADJUSTABLE JUMP ROPE

This was a jump rope I came by completely by accident. After years of using different ropes to varying degrees of satisfaction, this is the one I recommend to everyone. Dynapro’s adjustable jump rope is one of the most durable and easy to use ropes ever put together. It has some original features due to the construction which is different from other ropes.
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First of all, there are multiple colors of this rope available. It comes in bright colors, namely a refreshing blue, pink, and neon green. It is designed for performance, by keeping the swivel away from you and providing you with a softer rope curve. This is a great rope for freestyle skipping, meaning you can train every aspect of conditioning and endurance with it. There’s a ball bearing system ensuring seamless rotation. The ball bearing system works along with a swivel, guaranteeing smooth hand consistent rotation. It spins with just a flick of your wrist, requiring minimal hand motion. Thee starting length is perfect for people as tall as 6’8″, meaning everyone can use it. The rope itself is made of special PVC and is attached to the handles via chains. 100 % money-back guarantee and an incredible price, to begin with!

XYL SPORTS BOXING JUMP ROPE

This is a rope that will exceed everyone’s expectations. In our entire best MMA jump rope 2020 guide, this might be the one rope that will end up as everyone’s favorite. After all, it is a rope that professional boxers and MMA fighters greatly prefer. And for a good reason, as it is one of the most comfortable ropes to train with, in both terms of ration and handling.
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The XYL Sports rope is a jump rope that boxers really favor. It is a simple rope that has powerful performance capabilities. It comes in a uniform black color, no logos on it. As with all the other ropes in our best MMA jump rope guide, it is easy to adjust, allowing for as much as a 9’8″ maximal length. The grips are made of the latest technology foam, ensuring a soft grip that doesn’t slip even when soaking wet. Moreover, the foam is resistant to tears and won’t fall apart at all. The rotation is smooth, the rope uncoils easily and is resistant to tangling. it is made out of durable exclusive plastic, designed to last. Comes with a 100% money-back guarantee, and the best price in our 2020 guide.

IHEARTSYNERGEE PREMIUM JUMP ROPE

If you are one of those freakishly tall people that still like to skip rope, this is the jump rope for you. Ye,s the brand is a uniquely named one in IHeartSyneree and it doesn’t really scram MMA gear. It does, however, offer a jump rope that’ll rival any of the best MMA jump rope for 2020 contenders. It is a rope that offers a lot of variety and has a unique construction, providing properties other ropes do not possess.
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This premium jump rope is available in electric green, jet black, powder pink, and rogue red color. Moreover, it is a whole 10 feet long, meaning it covers the needs of even the tallest fighters. This rope was originally designed for CrossFit which is why it offers so much versatility. Still, it is one of the jump ropes best suited for the needs of MMA fighters, as it turns out. It is compact, feather-light, and easily adjustable. The rope comes with a zipper carrying bag, 6 additional end caps, 6 stoppers, and 2 rope twist ties. The handles are ergonomically designed and guarantee smooth handling. This 2mm thick rope also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.

WOD-FITTERS SPEED JUMP ROPE

As the name suggests, this is another rope originally designed for CrossFit. However, it makes our best MMA jump rope guide because it offers much more to MMA fighters than Cross Fitters. Namely, this is a professional rope, ultra-thin, and extremely adjustable. Moreover, it is the most durable one yet, and I guarantee it will last you a lifetime, at the very least.
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Let’s start with the rotation system. This speed jump rope has double bearing extra fast handles ensuring maximal rotation. The ball bearing technology is the latest and, along with the modern Ultra Speed Cable forms the fastest jump rope in existence. The handles are really thin, completely ergonomic, and lightweight. Moreover, there’s a kink-resistant wire cable that’ll never tear or break. The maximal length is 10 feet, allowing for every adjustment imaginable. allowing. There’s a carrying bag with a zipper included in the price. there’s a 100% money-back guarantee valid for 60 days after the purchase. Comes in jet black color.

321 STRONG ALUMINUM SPEED ROPE

The final entry in our best MMA jump rope guide today is the 321 sports aluminum rope. It has all the properties of the best jump ropes in the world, plus a few unique ones. It is available in a dark red and black combination, making it, arguably, the best looking one in the whole bunch. Perfect for both beginners and experienced fighters.
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The one defining trait of this jump rope is the ultra-slim, 6 inches long handles that are longer than most. This allows for great leverage and a seamless rotation. There are comfortable foam grips and thumb screws that allow easy adjustment. Ball bearings mean the rope offers high RPM capabilities and is tailor-made for speed skipping. The rope itself nothing but braided steel and features a special, ultra-durable PVC cover. The length is adjustable up to 11 feet, more than any other rope. Vinyl caps allow you to cover the ends of the rope after adjustments, increasing comfort. With the rope, you also get a free zipper bag, extra thumb screws, and vinyl caps, plus an ultra HD eBook with exercise guides.

Things To Keep An Eye On

There are a few more things to consider when acquiring a jump rope for MMA conditioning. these are the subtle characteristics of jump ropes that really influence how a rope performs in practice. One major aspect is the ability to adjust the rope’s length. As you saw previously, the best MMA jump rope 2020 guide has ropes that all offer the option of adjustments. But How exactly should you adjust a rope according to your needs? Your own height is the main determinant here, as you can see from the table below.

Other key aspects to consider are grips, ball bearings (or lack of them), the material of the rope, the potential for tangling, etc. To cover them all in short, grips need to be comfortable and not slip. Moreover, if you can get weighted ones, go for it! The rotation of the rope can also vary between 90-160 degrees, with them being the latter preferable choice. Tangling is also a big issue, so make sure the material of the rope is such that it prevents it from tangling while you’re not using or transporting it.

Closing Thoughts

Training with a jump rope might not be your favorite thing now, but wait until you try one of the ropes we reviewed above! Getting any of the ropes featured in our best MMA jump rope guide is guaranteed to change your perspective on MMA conditioning. Moreover, with a few of them, you also get free guides and exercise programs. It is about time you gave long boring roadwork the boot and get in great MMA shape in the comfort of your living room.

Best MMA Gym Bags 2020 Guide And Reviews

BJJ World

Best MMA gym Bags Of 2019: Your Ultiamte guide With In-Depth Reviews Of the Top Ten Bags

The most important things in martial arts are often taken for granted. It takes years of training and competition to starts learning how the little things impact the big picture. One of the things we take for granted often has to do with MMA training gear. In that sense, hardly anything is as marginalized as gym bags. Despite playing a huge role in a whole host of key areas, gym bags hardly get the recognition they deserve. Any bag would do for transporting your gear, but the best MMA gym bags offer much more than that. There are two ways to really understand how important gym bags are. One is to switch from your everyday bag to a specialized MMA bag. the other is to follow our guide.

So, what’s the deal with MMA gym bags? Is it really that important to have one of the best MMA gym bags? As you’ll see later one when we go into the defining characteristics of a solid gym bag, you can’t just use anything for an MMA bag. There are plenty of characteristics to consider, from size to material to compartment numbers, etc. to that extent, there’s is a huge supply out there, with everyone claiming to have the perfect gym bag. After thorough research, we came up with no less than 10 best MMA gym bags, enough to ensure everyone is going to find an option that suits them

What Does The Best MMA Gym Look Like?

In truth, it is not about what an MMA gym bag looks like, but rather how it is built. There are a few key characteristics that you need to consider whenever you’re looking for an MMA gym bag. We took into account several key traits of gym bags to make sure we had a really high standard when putting together our best MMA gym bags 2020 guide.

First up, space. MMA training requires quite a lot of gear. Sometimes, you just don’t have the time to go home in between training sessions in different disciplines. That means you need to carry around gloves, training apparel, shin guards, and many more pieces of equipment.

Next up, it is all about materials. The bag you choose to use on a daily basis needs to provide you with some key traits. You need a bag that won’t retain odors and won’t be a breeding ground for germs. That means breathable specialized materials that are also highly durable.

In terms of design, an MMA gym bag is usually a duffle bag style bag. However, on top of ease of access, an MMA bag needs organization. For that, it needs clever use of space by way of compartments. Moreover, you need different types of compartments (zipped, mesh, big, small, outside, etc.) There’s also the question of ergonomic design, particularly handles and straps.

Finally, we had to consider the price as a factor too. Not everyone can go and buy the latest trendy MMA gym bag, nor does it have to be as good as it is expensive. With an eye on variety, we included a wide array of differently priced MMA gym bags in our guide, with the one common thread being they are the best MMA gym bags you can get in 2020!

Best MMA Gym Bags Of 2020

Our guide today is a particularly rich one offering 10 different MMA bags, all fulfilling the requirements of the best MMA gym bags in 2020. The only task you have is browsing through and choosing your favorite, You could go and acquire it in one click right away, or go deeper and read a complete detailed review of each. Most of them have been tried and tested by ourselves, but we also considered the testimonials of people using them on a daily basis, including professional MMA fighters and grapplers.

Finally, before we begin we have to acknowledge the existence of more than just one type of MMA bag. While we focus on duffel bags today, as optimal for MMA we have to also mention backpacks. Backpacks offer a different dimension to things. In order to do them justice, we also have a complete guide to the best MMA backpacks you can get. If duffel-style bags are more your thing than just keep reading.

OGIO Endurance Duffel Bag

OGIO has a truly great MMA gym bag offer, so good in fact, that it opens our ultimate guide to the best MMA gym bags in 2020. While the brand might not be familiar straight away, after a taste of their stuff, you’ll soon realize that they only make quality products. What you get with the OGIO Endurance bag is a duffel bag for any occasion.
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The OGIO Endurance comes in two different sizes: 1.0 and 9.0. The first can hold up to 36.8 liters, while the second goes up to 58.3 liters. It comes in black color, with a neon green lining on the inside. While the original design is with a sternum strap, this bag also has the ability to morph into a backpack, making it a hybrid style MMA gym bag. There is a wet/dry pocket with a 360 ventilation gusset, a ventilated mesh pocket, and a specialized crush-resistant Tech-Vault compartment. The material is 3M-tech fabric, incredibly durable, and completely resistant to odor collection and/or germ retention.

Venum Sparring Sport BagMMA gear and Venum. These two terms are inseparable when it comes to quality gear for training combat sports. Since they really understand the needs of combat athletes, Venum does have a great range of MMA gym bags, two of which feature on our list today. The first one is the Venum Sparring Sports bag, one of the best-priced items 2020 has to offer.
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In terms of quality, you can hardly go wrong with Venum gear. After all, they have been around for years and thrive on delivering exactly what fighters need. The Sparring Sports bag is a duffel-style bag that comes in a black and black color combination. It is available in one size only, big enough to fit all your MMA needs. The material is 100 % Polyester making it ultra-durable and impervious to odors and germs. Apart from the main huge compartment, there are separate side pockets and mesh panels for optimal organization. The padded shoulder strap is adjustable with an ergonomic design. This bag is designed for holding MMA equipment specifically, so all your gear is going to fit perfectly.

Fairtex Equipment Gym Bag

Here we are a real threat. Fairtex made a point of designing an MMA bag that not only fits the requirements of the best MMA gym bags of 2020 but also looks awesome. Their Equipment Gym Bag is areal refreshment among the usual MMA bag design that tends to be darker and more boring. Best designed bag in our guide? You decide!
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The Fairtex Equipment Gym Bag comes in three different color designs. You have the basic gray and black combination but you also have purple and red camo options as well. A nice way to bring a bit of color into your everyday MMA routine, particularly for the ladies. The material is waterproof Nylon, and the bag features heavy-duty zippers. There is a separate wet clothes compartment that’s located underneath the main one. There’s also a mesh pocket, separate shoe pocket, and an earphones plug exit. The bag is 4″x24″x12″ and intended to store MMA gear. The total weight is somewhere around 4 lbs. Handmade n Thailand and with an incredible price for such high quality.

Hayabusa Ryoko Gear Bag

Hayabusa is a much-trusted combat gear brand that also delivers quality over quantity. While you won’t find a wide range of Hayabusa MMA gym bags, you’ll certainly find the best of them. That is, in particular, true for the Hayabusa Ryoko Duffel Gear Bag, the first choice of many professional MMA fighters. In terms of design, the most compact one in our best MMA gym bags 2020 guide.
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Once again, this is a dark themed bag, coming in full black with only white Hayabusa letters on the side. The design is not only a slick one but looks durable at first sight. Of course, it is just as durable as it looks, if not more. The fabric is a signature Hayabusa blend, guaranteeing years of use. Moreover, it is mesh-style material with a tear-resistant inner lining. This bot guarantees durability and complete breathability. There is a huge compartment that fits everything, from shin pads to MMA helmets, along with two big side pockets. Every compartment is fully ventilated and water, odor, and germ resistant. Also comes at a very reasonable price.

Sanabul Hybrid MMA Gym Bag

Sanabul is one of the most popular brands of today, quickly making a name for itself in the MMA world. They came out of nowhere but really conquered the hearts of fighters with great priced ultra-high-quality products. Lots of options to choose from here, but we started with the Sanabul Hybrid MMA bag, at least for now. After all, it is one of the best-looking MMA bags you’ll lever see.
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As far as versatility goes, you won’t find a more versatile MMA bag. In fact, this bag is great for everything from BJJ to hiking. Comes in black color, and is a really tough one. The material is Ballistic 1200D Cordura Nylon, offering the highest possible performance. This bag is not only resistant to tears, but also to scrapes and abrasions. Certainly one of the very best MMA gym bags in existence. Moreover, it also doubles as a backpack, since it is a hybrid design. That way, you get all the space of a duffel bag with the carrying advantages of a backpack. There are plastic molded mech compartments that are moisture-resistant, keeping everything separate and clean. Furthermore, there are travel locks available for each pocket.

Elite Sports Ventilated Mesh Duffel Gym BagThe Elite Sports ventilated Mesh Duffel Bag is the best priced MMA gym bag in our guide. It is designed for MMA in particular and offers unbelievable quality and versatility for an incredibly cheap price! Plus, there are different designs available. All in all, probably one of the best options in our best MMA gym bag 2020 guide, particularly if you’re a beginner in the sport.
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Elite’s gym bag is available in gray black and pink and comes in two different sizes medium and large. Once again, it is designed for MMA and combat athletes so it can hold a Gi, gloves, shinpads, and all assorted MMA/BJJ gear. The main compartment is a ventilated mesh one, ensuring no odor retention. It also provides much-needed airflow so that your gear dries quickly. Furthermore, the bag is ultra-lightweight but extremely durable and tough. It is made of military-grade Nylon that ensures longevity. The bag features a shoulder strap that you can switch for backpack straps if needed. Zippers are heavy duty and there are plenty of compartments large enough for different pieces of gear.

Meister MMA Chain Mesh Duffel Bag

We saw Nylon, Polyester, and a bunch of different mesh MMA gym bags so far. Meister’s MMA is another mesh-style MMA gym bag, but unlike anything, we saw before. In this case, it is an innovative chain mesh design that provides some unique properties. Oh, and then there’s the price which is as near to a free high-quality gym bag you can get. When it comes to all the options in our best MMA gym bags guide of 2020, this one is my personal favorite.
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The Meister MMA Chain Mesh bag comes in black color and in two different sizes. The smaller one is the “Classic” (22″ x 13″ x 13″) while the larger is the “X-Large” (28″ x 15″ x 15″). Both fit all of your MMA needs and work great together and apart. The material is, of course, the real sticking point here. It is a super-strong Chain Mesh that guarantees strength and resilience while allowing for optimum breathability. On top of it all, the bag is really lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear. There are a huge main compartment and zipper pockets on each side to provide you with a great organizational pattern.

Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag

As promised, Venum features yet again. This time, though it is the mother of all MMA gym bags, sort of speak. If you really enjoy having the largest bag in the gym, by all means, the Venum Trainer Lite bag is the one for you. Do not be fooled by the “Lite” in the naming, this is one big MMA gym bag!
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Venum’s Trainer Lite Sports Bag is a really big, extremely lightweight, and crazy good MMA gym bag. It comes in four designs, ranging between gold/black, khaki/black, navy blue/white, and gray. Size-wise, at 680 x 330 x 260mm this bag is the biggest representative of the best MMA gym bags of 2020 you can get. The main pocket is large, that much is clear so far, and can fit virtually anything. Separate side and mesh pockets provide even more space along with breathability. The shoulder strap is highly adjustable and designed no to cut into you, regardless of how heavy the bag is. Price is in the mid-range.

KINGTOP Top King Gym Bag

Kingtop is another brand that is conquering the MMA gear scene as of late. They offer some innovative and top performance products, including the Top King gym bag. This is another big bag with an awesome design and arguably the best pocket and compartment combination of all.
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There are two different color variations on the basic design of the KINGTOP Top King gym bag. One of them is gray and black, with a white Kingtop logo, while the other is green and black with the white logo. both look great and black is the dominant color. The bag’s dimensions are 35x90x35 cm, making it perfect for daily MMA training. Made of high-grade nylon, this bag is impervious to tears and really easy to maintain, as it doesn’t retain any odor. this bag is the best choice for those that are real sticklers about having many pockets to organize their gear in.

Sanabul Mesh Duffel Bag

Let’s end with a bang in the form of one more top drawer Sanabul MMA gym bag. Once again it is a mesh gym bag, completely ventilated, and very versatile in terms of available colors. This bag offers more in terms of size compared to Snabul’s Hybrid bag and is more heavy-duty than any other in our guide.
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Sanabul’s take on a mixed mesh gym bag is a real success. The material here is a unique mixture of mesh hand military-grade 1200D Cordura nylon. It is pretty much a huge bag, with the main compartment larger than most others. It can fit all of your BJJ and MMA gear in there with ease. Of course, the bag has an impressive rate of airflow, given the mesh material. That also means no stench and no germs. The zippers are heavy-duty and virtually unbreakable. Pockets also have a wet/dry design, keeping the moisture of whatever you place in there. There are two sizes, with the bigger one coming in at 23″ in length. The colors available are black, gray, and pink.

A Key Piece Of Equipment

As you can see, whether your choice is a duffel or a backpack, an MMA gm bag is a key piece of equipment. Anything but the best MMA gym bags is not going to really help you with your daily MMA grind. After all, it is down to your MMA gym bag to house multiple pairs of gloves, shinpads, perhaps a helmet, shorts, rashguards, antibacterial soap, bottles, mouthpiece, towel, shower gel, and anything else you might need to put in there.

Moreover, one really underrated aspect of MMA gym bags is hygiene. having all your wet and sweaty stuff together is a recipe for disaster. Throw in all the time you spend on the mats daily and it won’t be long before ringworm, or perhaps even staph work their way on your skin. IN that sense, odor and germ-resistant materials that allow air to circulate really do change the playing field. Moreover, specialized compartments that help divide all the wet stuff you have from the dry ones help you with both your longevity and that of your gear.

Conclusion

All in all, you need an MMA gym bag. That much we know. However, you can’t just grab a gym bag from the nearest sports store and hope it’ll rise to the occasion. Instead, you need one of the best MMA gym bags out there, particularly those proven to work. Our 2020 MMA gym bag guide above offers you 10 top-quality options to consider. Whatever size, material, or style you prefer, you’ll find it here.

Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional Review: “Protecting And Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle”

BJJ World

Priit Mihkelson DVD Review about his Turtle isntructional

“Protecting And Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle”. It certainly sounds like a mouthful. If the previous Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional is anything to go by then this is actually normal. Well, normal when Priit is the man behind it. The enigmatic Estonian grappler hits us yet again with one of his trademark instructionals. This time, his focus is on the turtle position. Priit is notorious for his countering and evasion tactics and is one of the hardest people to hold down, let alone submit. His latest digital instructional focuses on one of the most defensive positions in Jiu-Jitsu, along with a detailed blueprint on how to turn things to your advantage.

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What this Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional essentially is, is the best offensively defensive turtle instructional in existence. What this DVD is not, is an instructional on how to stay turtled up for ages in order to deter attacks. it’s also not a turtle guard kind of instructional, where you go on the offense all the time. It falls somewhere in between, offering the best of both worlds, of course, spiced up by Priit’s own take on things. Given that he is a huge fan of principle-based grappling, I was really looking forward to sifting through this one. Did it meet my expectations? Read on…

The Estonian Houdini

Priit Mihkelson is one of the nuttier grapplers of today. He is a Matt Thornton black belt (so that’s why he is so big on concepts and principles) and a representative of the always entertaining BJJ Globetrotters community. In fact, chances are that if you’re at any BJJ Globetrotters camp, you’ll most likely run into him. Actually, we have these camps to thank for bringing Priit and his unique way of teaching to our attention.

At currently 41 years of age, Priit isn’t necessarily the youngest grappler around. Instead of looking to exhaust himself daily, he takes a different route to ensure BJJ success. Mihkelson likes to be methodical, practical, and embraces the underdog role, sort of speak. By this, I mean he does not mind getting into uncomfortable situations at all. In fact, he actually favors them and has turned such spots into his main offensive outlets. His take on grappling is truly unique and coupled with his brawling character and teaching style makes watching this (and any) Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional a real treat.

Priit’s game is based largely on being able to escape from anywhere. The way he approaches things is by first ensuring he is safe. So, even if you have him in a tight spot, like mount, for example, he’ll just adjust a little and nullify all your attacks. He then uses your attempts at attacking to escape and create unexpected openings for himself. Once he turns the tables on you, he stays in control until some brutal submission of some kind lands on you. Now, this guy offers you his complete turtle system, which, if you’re lucky, will make you just as effective as he is.

“Protecting And Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle” Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional Review

The trouble with Priit is that he is so entertaining when he talks, that you might lose focus on what he’s demonstrating. His live classes really are something else. However, having a Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional means you can look at things as much as you want. And believe me, you will want to rewind and watch things over and over again. Priit has so much information to offer and does it in such a manner that you’ll get an overload of information the first time you go through his instructional. However, the organization and systematization are flawless and it all makes lots of sense.

The “Protecting And Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle” DVD is divided into four volumes. The instructional begins with some key principles behind the turtle position, from a defensive aspect. Volume two builds on those by offering you different (and new) ways of staying safe in the turtle position. Volumes three and four focus a bit more on some unexpected offense, mostly by way of counterattacking. All in all, it is a turtle position game like we’ve never seen before.

#1 Turtle Principles

As expected, an introduction is what opens the instructional. It is short, to the point, and doesn’t waste a lot of time. Priit immediately gets down to business, addressing something most people think is irrelevant in the turtle – posture. This simple principle of specific posture is going to make turn your turtle into a real fortress. Top it up with the “turtle neck” and you’re literally safe from anything an opponent might throw at you.

This brings us to something that’s really the downfall of many grapplers in the turtle – elbow positioning. When opponents can’t get the neck, they’ll usually try to go for the legs, or open your arms. In the latter situation, your elbows determine if they’ll be successful. Priit has the silver bullet here, offering an elbow positioning system that takes care of every possible attack. Of course, Mihkelson does not forget about the legs. The final chapters take care of foot positioning and dealing with your opponent’s hooks.

#2 Defending The Turtle Position

The second volume of Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional moves on to some hardcore turtle defense. In that sense, Priit offers something that’s really important and has not been covered so far – dealing with Truck entries. The turtle is one of the best spots to enter the Truck, which is a position nobody wants to be in. Priit’s solution is for sure going to make even Eddie Bravo think before going for a truck entry again.

The other major problem is the seatbelt, or as Mihkelson calls it, the harness. Well, there’s a solution for that as well, or rather a few organized in a systematic sequence. The standout from this volume, for me at least, was the clock choke defense. It is a unique way of stopping one of the tightest turtle submissions ever.

Further along in this volume, Priit moves to explain defense against specific positions and attacks. Namely, he shares his take on how you can use the turtle to prevent the opponent from passing with different passes. With this, he previews what’s to come in the following two volumes that tackle turtle offense.

#3 Turtle Offense

Time to switch things up a bit. However, manage expectations first. As I said, this is not an all-out attack kind of instructional. Instead, it’s a blueprint for turning the tables on your opponent as they attack the turtle. An advanced concept, yes, but a fairly simple way of using it, thanks to Priit.

First up, a strategy for dealing with wrestlers. Unlike BJJ people, wrestlers like to tilt people in turtle and get their back to the ground. Not anymore, as Priit has figured out the ultimate solution. From there on it is a bonanza of counter-attacks. Whatever you might think of doing to a turtled opponent, Priit has thought of too. D’arce choke, Anaconda, Guillotine, Crucifix, shin hooks… There are crazy, effective, and often brutal counter-attacks available to deal with all of these and many more.

#4 Counter Attacks

The very final part of the “Protecting And Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle” Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional goes on to explore the crazier aspects of Priit’s turtle game. Counters here are going to frustrate your opponents like nothing else. After watching this instructional, nobody is going to be able to pull your hip down to the mats, or sink in a seatbelt and/or hooks for a back take.

What you also get in this portion of the instructional is spinning escapes. not that they’re spinning as opposed to rolling escapes, so no need to be overly flexible or mobile. There is also a very useful way of pulling guard from the turtle as well as standing up completely despite your opponent’s best efforts. Crazy effective and completely unexpected.

Conclusion

What can we say except thank you Priit Mihkelson! Nobody likes getting stuck in a turtle, only to eventually end up in a bad position. The “Protecting And Generating Dynamic Offense From The Turtle” Priit Mihkelson DVD instructional offers a complete system on dealing with anyone from the turtle. The best thing about it is that you can just stay there completely safe until you decide to counter and turn the match to your advantage.

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X Guard: Do You Know All The Possible Variations?

BJJ World

There’s one guard position in BJJ that is crazy effective compared to all others. It is the X guard, a simple open guard that people usually discover at blue belt. This guard is crazy effective, easy to work from, and very hard to pass. Still, like all things that go mainstream, there are plenty of escapes, counters, and reversals available for the top person. However, there is a solution for this as well, or rather, multiple solutions. The X guard’s abilities to transition into other guards are one of its most effective traits. But what if you could stay in the X guard and simply decided to play a variation of it? Sounds even better, right?

To begin with, there’s more than just one X guard variation out there. Ok, there are more than two, as the single leg X guard is also a much-utilized position. However, there are also some additional guard variations and modifications that truly raise the bar of the effectiveness of this open guard. Having additional options also means that you have a more elaborate and versatile game to play. Moreover, attacking options tend to open up much more, particularly from some of the guard’s more modern variations.

The Lowdown On The X Guard

There are essentially two main advantages that the X guard has in terms of available attacks. Both of them have to do with the guard’s structure and position. Namely, this guard lands you straight under the opponent’s center of gravity. This means that you can get big reactions from them with minimal movement. It also makes guard retention a breeze.

The two aspects that make the X guard stand out above others are the options for off-balancing and the X hooks. Most guards in BJJ have the option of allowing you to move an opponent vertically or horizontally. Well, the X gives you the option of doing both. Moreover, you can connect both thus ensuring you can always sweep an opponent effortlessly.

The way you position your legs, on the other hand, provides you with really strong control. The X position of the feet means that you have a very strong way of latching on to the opponent. They can’t easily break the connection and you have great control over the hips. The perfect guard, right? Well, not just quite.

The drawback of the X guard is in attacking options. The things that make it a strong guard also mean that no direct submissions are available. It is the one position to head to if sweeping is your forte. However, if you’re into finishing, not that you’ll need to transition to other positions (apart from the Single Leg X) in order to do so.

Key X Guard Variations

Variations in the X guard are based on how you position your hooks. The main thing to remember is that you need to always stay underneath your opponent with the X guard. Also, unless you have some sort of an X configuration with your feet, it’s not really an X guard, right? So all of the variations below will still have some sort of X configuration of the legs. That said, we’ll explore a couple of variations that truly change the X guard, making it one of the best attacking guard positions in Jiu-Jitsu.

Priit Mihkelson Grilled Chicken Guard retention system — Techniques List

If you want to make sure nobody ever passes your guard, all you need to do is get “The Grilled Chicken Guard Retention System” DVD set by Priit Mihkelson. It is as unusual as it sounds and it works even better! Whether you’re an upcoming adult competitor or an over 40 grappler, this instructional is going to benefit you massively!

The Classic X

We’ll start off with the classic X guard, which we’ll reference as the straight X for now. The basic positioning for this variation has you controlling the hips with the foot. For this, you need to use the leg that has a knee pointing behind the opponent. The other leg has a hook behind the knee and has the role of the main control leg in the guard. Finally, you grip the other leg (the one that’s over your shoulder) with a scoop grip.

Options from here come in the form of sweeps and transitions. Sweeping is easy in literally all directions since you can lift the opponent up and stretch them horizontally at the same time. The easiest thing to do is simply stretch your legs and do a technical standup. You’ll end up sweeping the opponent and even might get a calf slicer on your way out. Transitioning-wise, you can go to any and all X guard variations, Ashi Garami, or other open guard variations. Plus, if a really flexible opponent decides to just sit down with a wide base, you end up in the deep half guard.

The Reverse X

This variation came to prominence with the modern leg lock game. In fact, many people used it to make a point of how not to cross your legs when in the X guard. It turns out, it is a very powerful guard of its own, one that offers numerous attacking threats.

The way the reverse X works is by switching the position of your legs. Namely, the foot that hooked behind the knee now goes over the other one and hooks directly on the hip. Unlike the straight X though, both legs are on the hip. the reason for this is that a vertical lift is essential for the reverse X guard. However, the position of the hooks guarantees you’ll off balance any opponent. From there, leg lock entries into the Inside Senkaku are the usual route, although you can also opt for an easy sweep and a pass.

The Low X

This one is one of my favorites. There’s not much that people can do against this variation and it is a great way to surprise even the most seasoned grapplers. This variation works best off the straight X as an initial point, but you can enter into it directly as well. The whole thing here is that you forego hip control in order to control the end of the longest lever- the foot of the leg. This gives you both direct control over the leg, and indirect control over the hip.

All you need o do in order to get to this variation is to unhook the hip hook from the straight X and place it on the front of the ankle on the same leg. Using the other leg to force a bend in the knee is useful, but not mandatory. Another thing to remember is to stick to the scoop grip rather than the Achilles grip for this one. that’s it. You can go to the reverse X, Ashi, SIngle leg X, sweep at will, and even take the back. For me, it is the ultimate X guard variation.

The Single Leg X

This one is probably a bigger classic than the straight X. It is essentially a vertical ankle lock, to be honest. The Single Leg X guard offers enormous control by using your entire body against an isolated limb, in this case, a leg. It is huge in terms of control, sweeping, and even direct submission options.

Getting to the Single Leg X from the Straight X guard is as easy as unhooking the hip hook And throwing it over the near side leg. The other leg then goes on to hook behind the butt, on the same side. The best grip here is an Achilles grip, but the scoop grip can be useful as well, particularly for sweeps. Options include sweeping to a leg lock or pass, going for a rolling leg lock attack, or transitioning into another X guard variation.

The Low Single Leg X

While some might argue that this is not really an X guard variation, it is useful nonetheless. The X configuration is still here, but the positioning is different, given that you’re not underneath an opponent. However, as far as No-Gi is concerned, this is the best option for stopping speed passers in their tracks!

For the low single leg X, all you want is to hook both your legs in an X configuration on the ankle of one of the opponent’s legs. The hooking is done from the front, making sure the top leg is the one that’s on the same side as the leg you’re attacking. As simple as it may sound, this position really anchors down opponents, taking away a lot of mobility. Moreover, you can use it to goes into the single leg X, straight or reverse X, shin-to-shin, or a bunch of other guards. Of course, there’s the Ashi Garami transition as well.

Summary

All in all, the X guard is one of the very best open guards in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Learning how to use variations of the guard is going to make it even more dangerous for anyone that faces you on the mats. The more variations of it you use and the better you are at switching back and forth between them, the more successful you will be. All of the variations we saw today work at the highest levels and form an unstoppable bottom game. Give it a try and see for yourself!

DVD and DIGITAL Instructionals Related to X Guard :

Deep Half Guard in BJJ – Everything About

Is Your “A-Game” Enough For A BJJ Tournament ?

Black Belt Tips To Improve Your BJJ Guard

Best MMA Shin Guards 2020 Guide And Reviews

BJJ World

The ultiamte gude for the beest MMA shin guards Of 2019

If you’ve never given or received a leg kick, this article is not for you. If you had the displeasure of having gone through such an experience, then you know the value of shin guards. Moreover, you’re aware that nothing but the best MMA shin guards can do the job. Even then you’ll feel the kicks and checks, but you’ll have enough protection. And protection is the only way to be able to do it for a lifetime. Oh and something else. if you’re just starting MMA and you’ve got amateur fights coming up, you’re going to kneed shin guards in the octagon as well. You might as well get the beery best.

In all my years of martial arts, which is currently 27 years and counting, there’s nothing that comes even close to leg kicks. There are a few moments with leg kicks that stand out to everyone. the first one is the very first time you get one right. Hitting a bag or a pad makes you realize how powerful they are. Next, is the first time you receive one in training. That’s the first time you truly begin to give leg kicks their due respect. Finally, there’s the first moment you check a leg kick in sparring. It is a whole different world of pain, particularly if your shins are not conditioned. The answer is easy – get shin guards. Training MMA without the best MMA shin guards on is next to insane. So be smart about it and follow our guide.

Shin Guard Shopping 101

If you’ve never shopped for a shin guard, you’re going to need to understand the basic characteristics you’re looking for. On that note, do not confuse shin guards with gloves, because there’s a huge difference. When you’re looking for the best MMA shin guards for you, getting the first pair you get your hands on might prove to be the wrong decision.

The one most important thing to understand about shin guards is impact absorption. After all, their one role is to protect the bones in your leg. Not a small order of business. In terms of padding, there are a few options. Foam can be layered in a single or multiple layers, to begin with. Single layers are weaker than double-layered foam pads. Then, you have leather-bound foam padding which ensures longer life and a more compact shin guard. There’s also gel, offering some of the best impact absorption possible. Of course, there are also combinations of the above.

As far as materials are concerned there are two main options: leather or cotton. Leather ones are obviously better unless you have skin trouble and require cotton. That said, neoprene sleeves also work well, particularly for training.

Size is the next big thing. You need to make sure you find out the perfect size for you. Too small, and you won’t have enough protection. Too big and they’ll constantly wiggle and move, once again exposing your shins. As always, the best course of action is consulting the appropriate size chart.

Best MMA Shin Guards

Now that you understand what you’re looking for when choosing a shin guard, let’s look at the best MMA shin guards you can get in 2020. Make sure that when you’re shopping for your MMA equipment, you start with shin guards. Believe me, you need to get a pair of those even before you get a pair of gloves. Shin guards make all the difference, not just by directly protecting your shins. Healthy shins mean you can train and fight more often. Shin splints hurt like hell and make you take time off. You make the math.

On the subject of protecting your shins too much, do not worry. There are shin conditioning exercises that you should be doing to get ready for the real thing. However, live MMA/kickboxing sparring shouldn’t go live. You won’t do live rounds with MMA fight gloves on a daily basis, so why would your shins be any different? Get a pair of shin guards and start working on those checks. After a couple of those in a live fight and your opponent will reconsider if they want to attack your legs.

Venum Challenger Standup Shin Guards

First up Venum’s Challenger Standup Shin Guards. These are practical, cool-looking, and inexpensive. Pretty much, they offer anything you could be looking for in a pair of the best MMA shin guards. They are available in different colors and offer plenty of variety in terms of size.
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The design of these MMA Shin Guards is not flashy but looks really cool. For starters, they all have a black background. For those that like minimalism, you can get them with black writing and art as well. others have the option of combining white, orange or neon yellow for the art and letters. The material is 100 % synthetic leather. This translates to long life, great durability, and effortless maintenance. There is high-density foam as padding, providing enhanced shock absorption. The padding runs the length of the shin but covers the instep as well. These shin guards are extremely lightweight and offer incredible mobility. The velcro straps have a customizable no-slip fit. They are available in sizes medium to extra large.

Fairtex Competition Shin Guards

These are one of the coolest looking pairs of MMA shin guards you’ll ever find! They are high quality, they are durable, available in a bunch of colors and won’t set you back a lot. in short, these are shin guards that’ll last you for a very long time.
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I mentioned a bunch of colors. The design features a base color that can be black, blue, red, or yellow. Other than that, the Fairtex logo is at the front top and the outside half of the shin guards have a checkered pattern. These are very comfortable shin guards because they provide an unusually tight fit. In other words, they feel like they’re not there. The shin guards are made by hand in Thailand and are very sturdy. The foam padding is layered in three layers, and there’s dual protection (shin and instep.) Sizes available range between small and extra-large. Features velcro straps.

Hayabusa T3 MMA Shin Guards

If I had to choose a pair of MMA shin guards to wear daily, I’d go for this one. The Hayabusa T3 MMA shin guards offer the most variety in every sense. They have an awesome design available in plenty of colors and sizes for everyone. Compared to the other best MMA shin guards in our 2020 guide, these have the most ergonomic design.
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There’s no better protection for your shins and your training partners’ heads and bodies than the Hayabusa T3 MMA shin guards. they contour perfectly on the leg and knee, providing a tight fit and maximum support. They are either full black or white, with different colored squares on the front, giving them a really aesthetic look. From a performance standpoint, there’s hardly a better pair of shin guards. The material is synthetic leather and they come pre-curved to provide maximal protection. There’s an inside silicone grip to ensure no movement during training. The closure system is via dual straps with Velcro. There’s also a system that ensures ventilation and moisture-wicking. Sizes include everything between small and extra-large.

Sanabul Essential Hybrid Shin Guards

Sanabul is quickly rising to the very top of combat sports gear brands. They have literally everything you might think of for MMA and grappling. Moreover, they offer really high-quality stuff at a fraction of the price compared to others. Their Essential Hybrid shin guards are just another example of their prowess.
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There are eight different colored designs of these shin guards available for you in 2020. They include black, red, green, silver, copper, and more. These are both extremely great fitting and highly protective. They offer the mobility you need for MMA but also offer Muay Thai level protection. IN that sense, they’re as near to perfect as possible. They are one-piece shin guards that pride themselves on the specially developed foam padding. Once again, they provide protection for both instep and shin. There are two neoprene straps, one at the top and the other at the middle of your shin to ensure a snug and adjustable fit. These shin guards are triple stitched and will outlast any other rival product. Sizes include XS, S/M and L/XL.

KINGTOP Protector Shin Guards For MMA

Kington’s Protector shin guards are somewhat a surprising contender in our best MMA shin guards 2019 guide. they do, however, meet every criterion, and then some! This is an awesome pair of shin guards there ever was one! All shapes and sizes are available with these and they’re great for every possible occasion that requires shin pads.
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These have a very traditional Muay Thai style, making their design different from all the others in our guide. There’s extra padding in specific areas like under the kneecaps and around the lower leg muscles. There is a hook and loop Velcro closure. they come in 7 different designs that include two color combinations, the so-called “empowered” black and white and the unique snake gold and black design. Sizes range between S and XL. Protection extends to the instep.

Combat Sports Shin Guard Socks

The final entry in our best MMA shin guards 2019 guide are the Combat Sports shin guards. These are different from all the above options in one main area – they’re sock-style pullover shin guards. As such, they offer different aspects in terms of protection and mobility compared to the strap on shin guards.
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The Combat Sports Shin Guard Socks come in black, red, blue, and grey versions. They are made out of a specialty compression material designed to fit your legs completely. They offer compression on top of ensuring protection. The foam pads are on the front and cover both the shins and instep. A key characteristic is that you can take the foam pads out since they’re fitted into special velcro pockets. The sizes go from S to XL but you need to make sure you really pay attention to the size chart. itis best that you measure your shin’s length and circumference before choosing because these can be very tight or loose and you can’t adjust them if you make a mistake.

MMA Shin guards FAQ

Of course, you might still be left with a few usual questions regarding shin guard selection. So far you know the criteria and you have in-depth reviews of the best MM shin guards ours there in 2019. let’s try and answer some of the most common questions that follow, even with the information you have at your disposal so far.

Closure

The closure system of shin guards can vary, but most of them are based on a Velcro hook and loop system. This means they’re really easy to put on and get off, as well as adjust. However, the drawback is that Velcro can become loose with time. Very often, the Velcro is the first thing to go in high-quality shin guards. You can either have new velcro put in place or choose a sock-type shin guard.s However, there’s much more slippage with the sock type.

Maintenance

Of course, keeping your shin guards clean is of huge importance. Material plays the defining role here. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations is always the best. Moreover, we made a p[oint of only choosing those shun guards that are easy to cell for our guide. All shin guards made of synthetic leather, Vinyl, or similar, you’re safe to use soaps and detergents. Leather ones require more attention and some special cleaning products.

When To Wear Them

Yeah, this might sound like a stupid question but it does get asked often. Especially among beginners. The rule of thumb is to wear a shinguard any time you are sparring. that one is a given. In terms of training, you could wear one when drilling checks, but don’t make a habit of it. in terms of bag and pad work, I’d recommend that you give shin guards a rest.

Fitting

Finally, a few words on how to make sure your shin guards fit you perfectly. With most shin guards, there’s no left to right shin guard, as they conform perfectly to each leg. Some do have that distinction though, so keep an eye on it. Other than that, watch out for circulation when you tighten the straps. You need to feel loose and not restricted with shin guards on.

Final Thoughts

You can think that you’re tough as nails until you realize how much leg kicks hurt. Instead of having to go through all that pain for nothing, invest in some shin guards. moreover, choose a pair fro the best MMA shin guards available in 2019! that way, you’ll keep yourself and your partners safe, and you’ll still be able to move unassisted when you reach an older age.

Best MMA Sparring Gloves 2021 Reviews And Guide

BJJ World

The Best MMA Sparring gloves guide for 2019 with detailed reviews

Thinking about giving MMA a try? Switching from grappling to full-out MMA training is hard. Given that you’re comfortable with your stand-up skills, you’re going to need some extra equipment compared to grappling. For starters, you’ll need some safety gear. That means gloves, shin pads, helmet, etc. However, you can’t just go and use whatever you think fits. You need the right training equipment for the right way of training. When it comes to MMA sparring, you need to make sure that before anything else, you have a pair of the Best MMA Sparring Gloves that are available to get in 2021! And we have the ultimate guide for you!

training MMA is going to be harder than anything else you’ve ever done. Doing something so demanding puts both your body and your mind under a real strain. While you’re fighting, every lapse in concentration can cost you a fight. However, there’s no need to go through the same whenever you train. It is essential that you train as close as possible to the way you’ll fight. Still, sparring in a cage with 4 oz fight gloves on a daily basis is a bad idea. But boxing gloves are also not the answer! Instead, there are gloves that are designed specifically for MMA sparring. So, let’s look at some of the best MMA sparring gloves you can get to help you with both safe and effective MMA training.

MMA Sparring

If MMA fighting is the hardest thing you’ll ever do, then MMA sparring is impossibly hard! it is pretty much like fighting on a daily basis and with multiple opponents. Granted, the intensity and pressure are far from the same, but the punishment is not that different. So if you need to be smart about fighting, you need to be even smarter about training MMA. That means staying safe first and foremost.

First of all, the main reason you wear gloves in MMA is not to protect your opponent. MMA gloves have the task of protecting your wrists and hands from the trauma of repetitive impact. Training, on the other hand, and sparring, in particular, is different. here, you want to make sure both your hands and your training partners are safe. And, since you’re getting hit as well, you want the other guy/girl to also have appropriate MMA sparring gloves on.

MMA sparring gloves are different from other types of MMA gloves. In fact, there are three basic MMA gloves types: fight gloves, grappling gloves, and sparring gloves. The first two are pretty similar, with just subtle differences in design and weight. MMA sparring gloves, on the other hand, are obviously not the same as fighting. grappling MMA gloves. At first glance, they are quite larger and bulkier, although not to the extent of boxing gloves. next, they’re heavier and they feature an original design, so they allow for clinching and perhaps takedown training as well. One thing these gloves are not intended for is grappling, although it is not entirely impossible to do so with them on. Still, for any and all mitt work, bag work, and standup live sparring, MMA sparring gloves are the only piece of gear to guarantee safety and comfort.

The Best MMA Sparring Gloves of 2021

In terms of the best MM sparring gloves you can get, we really had our work cut out for us. There are so many options out there and they all do a solid job. However, some are simply in a class of their own. All it takes is knowing what you’re looking for in MMA sparring gloves and, of course, knowing where to look. Combining both those efforts resulted in our best MMA Sparring Gloves 2021 Guide, which features nothing but the top choices. Our choices are given even more weight by the fact that they’re the preferred choices of world champion MMA fighters around the globe.

Further along, we bring you some top-priced, high-quality, easy to obtain sparring gloves for mixed martial arts. Whatever your choice is, you can rest assured your wrists and all your training partners are going to be safe. At the same time, they guarantee you’ll get the most out of every live sparring session. Actually, some of them do a great job even n grappling exchanges and will soon become your go-to pair of gloves for MMA training overall. Time to check them out:

Venum Impact Sparring MMA Gloves

Venum is the brand that opens out the best MMA sparring gloves 2021 guide. We already know we can trust Venum with some of the best quality grappling and MMA gear. In those terms, The Venum Impact gloves are truly a pair of top-grade sparring gloves that have virtually no flaws.
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With the Venum impact, you get two main glove designs. One is black, with white sublimated art all over them. The other is the exact opposite, white with black art. Sizes are the common small-medium combination and large, extra-large combination. Both of these sizes guarantee a fit on virtually any fighter. The padding has multi-layered extra quality foam that offers improved shock absorption. The material is premium semi-leather, offering both a top price and incredible durability. The closure is via a double Velcro guaranteeing mobility and stability of the wrist. They’re made in Thailand, which is where the best MMA gloves are produced. Also, featuring is an attached thumb for extra protection.

RDX Cowhide Leather MMA Gloves

The name of these gloves pretty much says it all. The manufacturer is RDX, another huge brand when it comes to combat sports equipment. Similar to Venum, the fact that these are RDX gloves guarantees a quality product. Next up, it is clear that these premium gloves are made out of 100 % natural leather as well.
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The color that is available for purchase is white with gold and black sublimated art all over. On that note, the design is one of the best of any gloves in our guide here. The material is NAPPA cowhide leather that is hand-stitched. In other words, these gloves will last you a lifetime, even if you use them every day. The padding is also innovative, featuring a Tri-slab compressed foam padding throughout the glove. In between each layer of padding, there are sheets of Shell Shock gel to further lessen the effects of an impact. This type of padding offers crazy good shock absorption.

There’s a y-Volar design with a big thumb loop. QD-2 inner lining means there’s no odor retention and the binary E-Z hook and loop strap means they’re a breeze to put on and take off. The design also means you can train grappling with these gloves as well. 7 oz weight and sizes S-Xl.

Combat Sports Max Strike MMA Sparring Gloves

The Combat Sports Max Strike gloves might come as a surprise on this list. They might not be a fan favorite brand (yet) but they have made an impressive pair of MMA sparring gloves. The design is very practical and they’re also the best-priced pair of gloves in our best MMA sparring gloves 2021 guide.
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The Combat Sports Max Strike MMA sparring gloves are available in three main colors, red, blue, and white. The design has the Combat Sports logo and some black color art on each type of base color. Sizes include the basic small/medium and large/extra large. The padding consists of 2″ molded foam padding which might just make them the safest MMA sparring gloves ever. They are extremely ergonomic guaranteeing maximal comfort. There’s a knuckle hinge design that ensures the glove stays in place while allowing you to grip without restraint. Yet another pair you can wear for grappling as well. There’s a wrap-around wrist strap that offers great stability. Top option for people just starting to train and spar in MMA.

Fairtex MMA Sparring Gloves

The Fairtex gloves come as 7 oz black gloves that are pretty similar to the Combat Sports gloves. they look awesome, are made of genuine high-quality materials, and offer immense protection. Despite them being on the pricier side, they are a pair of gloves that will keep you safe your entire career.
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The only design you can get in 2021 is completely black, with grey only as part of the Fairtex logo on the top of the strap. Sizes range from small to extra large, just like with any of the best MMA sparring gloves. The material is 100% top grain leather. Padding is high-grade foam and is extra thick. These gloves also feature an ergonomic built-in curve in the foam, ensuring protection even when you’re relaxed. The padding over the knuckles is extra large for extra protection. There’s a full wraparound wristband and hook and loop closure system with added wrist support. These gloves weigh 7 oz and feature a knuckle hinge design as well.

Hayabusa MMA Tokushu Hybrid Gloves

We really did not take our best MMA sparring gloves to guide lightly. In terms of brands, we feature every brand that has a legitimate claim to have the best product in this category. Of course, Hayabusa makes an appearance as well. Their Tokushu Hybrid gloves are the top choice of pro-MMA fighters and should be yours as well. I know I love them.
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These 7 oz gloves come in white, with the recognizable Hayabusa logo on top. The inner side and part of the gloves are black, giving them a cool-looking design. The material is definitely original with a special mixture of a bunch of materials. While these gloves are the only non-leather ones on our list, they’re definitely long-lasting and ultra quality due to the patented Hayabusa fabric. The padding is also a combination of different substances, guaranteeing extreme protection and comfort. These gloves are the perfect fusion of performance and protection. The closure is via a Patented Dual-X Wrist Close strap, featuring a Fusion-Zone Wrist Splinting support. If you need any more convincing, these gloves were developed with the help of leading university research.

Everlast Train Advanced MMA Gloves

Black, 7 oz, Everlast gloves. For many, this is the description of the perfect pair of MMA sparring gloves and it is not far from the truth. There’s no need to talk about Everlast’s legacy, as they’re the original high-quality combat gear brand. And these gloves are simply a special edition even by Everlast standards.
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The Everlast ‘Train Advanced” gloves are available in S/m and L/XL and come in black. They have anatomical thumb padding that ensures added thumb protection. Padding is with Durafoam specialty foam. It runs the entire width of the top areas, in multiple layers. The closure system is once again with a hook-and-loop strap that’s easy to use even by yourself. The finger loops of these gloves are reinforced, featuring anatomical extra padding over each. The lining is patented EverFresh fabric, resistant to microbes and odor retention.

Things To Know About MMA Sparring Gloves

Now that you know what your top options are when it comes to the best MMA sparring gloves, let’s look at key characteristics. Our guide has nothing but top options and you’ll need to know which criteria the best gloves for you need to meet. We have a few here that’ll help you make up your mind.

First and foremost, since safety is of primary concern during MMA training, we have padding as the main criterion. usually, MMA gloves contain foam padding. If you can, always go for layered foam when you’re choosing to spar MMA gloves. Regular foam is also good, but you want all the protection you can get, remember? In that sense, foam materials can also differ, with cheaper ones offering less protection and durability. Quality foam padding is a must!

The outer material comes next. Most MMA gloves are made out of leather. However, leather can be natural or synthetic. 100% natural leather is always a better choice but can be a bit pricier. In that regard, the type of leather doesn’t make much difference as long as it is natural. It’ll last you much longer though and is easier to maintain and clean.

In terms of weight, MMA sparring gloves usually weigh 7-9 oz. That puts them right in the middle between MMA fight gloves (4 oz) and boxing gloves both youth and adults 912-14 oz). Size-wise, with MMA sparring gloves you want to think the opposite of MMA fighting gloves. You want the tightest fitting, but the largest glove size that you can get, instead of going ultra-tight.

Summary

There is one more thing you can do after choosing your pair of best MMA sparring gloves from our guide. Make sure you share this article with your training partners to keep you safe as well. That said, you always need to pay attention to what type of gloves your training partner is wearing. Avoid training with people that only want to spar with fighting MMA gloves and you’ll have a long MMA career with much less trauma.

Cesar Casamajo DVD Review: Best Of Butterfly Guard

BJJ World

"Best Of Butterfly Guard" Cesar Casamajo DVD Review

If you ask any of the top level No-Gi competitors of today what the best guard is, you’ll get the answer “butterfly guard” more often than not. While some people look down on it as a means of butt scooting, it is, by all means, a really efficient position. Some people are so proficient at it that they take it to a completely new level. One of them is Cesar Casamajo, a BJJ black belt that doesn’t care if he’s going Gi or No-Gi. He is one of the people that really know all the nooks and crannies of the butterfly guard. In fact, he has so much info on it, he had to condense it into a “Best Of Butterfly Guard” Cesar Casamajo DVD.

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Cesar Casamajo – Best Of Butterfly Guard (DVD/DIGITAL)

The first time you discover butterfly guard, you start thinking that it is the holy grail. Later on, it becomes something that only used to work at lower levels. For most people, it takes a really advanced level until they reactivate the butterfly again. Of course, the second time around, it is a whole different ball game. Well, the “Best Of Butterfly Guard” Cesar Casamajo DVD can help you skip the phase where you think the butterfly guard doesn’t work. It is a great resource to help you figure out one of the best BJJ guards very early, giving you a huge edge over everyone.

The Story Of The Butterfly Guard

The butterfly guard is actually considered a classic guard, somewhere along the lines of the closed guard. It is based on using hooks to control the opponent, which is a simple and very old grappling concept. Historically speaking, the butterfly guard was a part of many grappling arts, including Judo, catch wrestling and even Sambo. Sergio “Bolão” Souza was the man that built a legacy on the butterfly guard in the early ’80s. Jean Jacques Machado, Renzo Gracie, Nino Schembri, and others took it even further in the ’90s. Later, Terere and Marcelo Garcia made even further advancements, before ultimately it turned into the headquarters position fro launching leg lock attacks in modern grappling.

The butterfly guard is crazy effective given that it provides an easy defensive position, mobile control via hooks and an easy rout under the opponent’s center of gravity. The fact that it works just as well against standing and kneeling opponents, as well as from a supine and seated position also makes it very versatile. The positioning is easy but the mechanics are anything but. it takes someone with years of experience and knowledge to really help you get the hang of the butterfly guard. Someone like Cesar Casamajo.

If you learn the butterfly guard from a resource like this Cesar Casamajo DVD, you’ll have absolutely no problem with it. It is going to work, it is going to make sense and it’ll allow you to modify it to your own needs. The butterfly guard is simple but full for details and it needed an instructional with the same qualities. Now that instructional is finally here.

“Best Of Butterfly Guard” Cesar Casamajo DVD Review

Whenever I get my hands on a BJJ DVD instructional that has 4 or more parts I’m both stoked and a little bit anxious. Jiu-Jitsu is a complicated sport and it requires a lot of explanation in order to understand specific aspects of it. However, the best approach is to explain everything step by step in a simple manner. the more complicated an explanation, the more questions arise. This Cesar Casamajo DVD is truly a “Best Of” edition.

The instructional dumbs down the butterfly guard as much as possible. At the same time, it follows a progressive pattern, taking things from fundamentals all the way to advanced. The instructional doesn’t have 10 volumes that try and focus on every possible way in which you can twist your toes during hooking. Instead, everything is covered in two volumes, each containing about a dozen or so chapters. The chapters are not too long but do cover everything you could think of. The subjects of both volumes change, with the first covering butterfly guard attacks, and the second ways of passing the butterfly guard.

Cesar Casamajo himself is an awesome teacher. He really takes care of things in a quick and precise manner. The Brazilian is a black belt under Aldo Caveirinha and a multiple times IBJJF champion. He was particularly feared as a brown belt, with everyone literally running away from his butterfly guard. Cesar represents the “Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu Family” team and is an active competitor still.

DVD #1 – The Butterfly Guard Bottom

The “Best Of Butterfly Guard” Cesar Casamajo DVD starts off with an introduction. Cesar introduces himself first, and then his butterfly guard history and approach. Of course, the “classic” BJJ sweep made famous by “Bolão” is the first out of the gate. Cesar likes to modify it a bit though. Not only that, but he made it equally as effective for both Gi and No-Gi with the same grips.

Speaking of sweeps, there are a lot of them in this volume. After the classic one, Cesar covers the pushover and slide under weeps. This way, he allows you to sweep in three different directions using only slight adjustments in your position. the best thing about it is that he shows you how to connect all three of them in an unstoppable sequence.

Before continuing with even more sweeps, Casamajo takes a brief detour. Namely, he demonstrates a back that that is as slick as it is basic. At the highest levels, it is basics that win fights. With this notion in mind, Cesar covers things simply but without leaving anything out.

Finally, he goes back to sweeps, covering a multitude of them in the chapters that follow. A real special is the “Casamajo flip” that’s a very cool sweep variation specific to Cesar. The shoudler trap sweep is also an awesome one that’s sure to get lots of opponents on their backs.

DVD #2 – The Butterfly Guard Top

The second portion of the instructional changes tunes completely. It takes a butterfly guard expert to be able to pass the butterfly guard of high-level grapplers. Since Casamajo is one of the leading experts in the field, he also has a sick passing game. Here, he demonstrates how he likes to disrupt and dismantle the butterfly guard when on top.

It all starts with some basics. However, instead of offering crazy ways of getting past the guard, Cesar starts you off slow – with positioning. He likes to use a great concept by having the same starting position for different passes. As expected, the knee cut pass features first, given the position of the guard. The common issue with this pass is the entry, which Cesar’s positioning completely takes care of.

the hip control pass is another real gem by Cesar. In fact, you can use this one as a concept on passing plenty of other guards as well. Which brings us to some signature Cesar moves. There’s a literal way of “worming” yourself into the mount along with a “trap mount” variation. Casamajo finishes with some submission options. these include a triangle choke from side control, straight off passing and a signature Casamajo choke.

Final Thoughts

The “best Of Butterfly Guard” Cesar Casamajo DVD is one of the staples of butterfly guard instructionals. While it may not get the recognition it should, it certainly makes up for it with quality. The way the instructional is structured makes it one of the best BJJ DVDs ever released. Moreover, it won’t leave beginners scratching their head, lost in hours upon hours of material. A straight to the point BJJ DVD – something we don’t see that often nowadays.

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Cesar Casamajo – Best Of Butterfly Guard (DVD/DIGITAL)

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“Best Of Butterfly Guard” Cesar Casamajo DVD Review

DVD #1 – The Butterfly Guard Bottom

DVD #2 – The Butterfly Guard Top

Final Thoughts